§ Mr. CarringtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take to help leaseholders of local authorities facing bills for estate action repairs and improvements where these costs are also met by Government-funded schemes. [11822]
§ Mr. ClappisonWe have today invited comments on proposals to remove this anomaly. We propose to require local authorities, and other social landlords, to reduce charges for works to the extent that these are funded by central Government—for example, under the single regeneration budget challenge fund. For schemes already in process or completed—for example, under estate action—when the measure comes into effect, we propose to permit landlords to reduce charges. I have placed in the Library a copy of our consultation paper "Leaseholders of local authorities, housing action trusts, urban development corporations, registered housing associations and other registered social landlords: proposals to reduce charges for estate repairs and improvements funded by central government." We have invited comments by the end of February, as we wish to introduce our proposals at the earliest suitable legislative opportunity. The Welsh Office will be consulting similarly in Wales.